Kuan Ti 关帝 (God of Righteousness ‘正义’) and Kuan Ti Temple along High Street (adjacent to Petaling Street – KL’s Chinatown).The temple which houses an antique ‘关刀guan dao ‘. This long knife was Kuan Ti’s weapon and had been brought here from China more than 100 years ago.

There are two Guardian Gods of the temple standing ostentatiously outside, on either side of the entrance. This temple was built-in 1888 by the Selangor & Federal Territory Kwong Siew Association.

A beautiful heritage building, but unfortunately it was left abandoned by the owners. Note the arch, a rare sight nowadays and the old-fashioned windows (above).

Ah, this row of pre war buildings had been renovated and were put to good use as guest houses and restaurants. You can see a lot of foreign tourists along this road, relaxing and enjoying their Chinese cuisine, drowned with pints of beers.

This white building housed a Chinese drama society called “Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association 人镜.” Just next to it was an old tailor shop from the past, still operating under the name “Kwong Fook Wing.” Both these buildings are a very rare sight in this metropolitan city of Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur’s landmarks have constantly been changed to cater for the growing needs of the city’s folks. The Chinese Assembly Hall is still standing majestically. Despite the fast pace development of the city, KLSCAH has been able to survive the demands of developments.

It has a glorious past, built-in 1910 and completed about 13 years later. The historical building was the center for cultural and political gatherings of the Chinese community when Kuala Lumpur was still part of Selangor and even until now. This all white building was beautifully lit up at night throughout the year and big red lanterns adorned its doorway. It was indeed a pride of the Chinese community of this nation.

You can see a pair of Chinese guardian lions (石獅) standing firmly at the main entrance. They are believed to have a powerful mystic protective power. Such powerful icons can always be found at the home of the wealthy, temples and associations. The lions are always created in pairs, with the male playing with a ball and the female with a cub. They represented the harmony of yin and yang.

This building used to face a tall and colorfully lighted fountain at a roundabout (now an extinct roundabout called Bulatan Merdeka). It was one of Kuala Lumpur’s most popular sightseeing attractions during the late 60’s and early 70’s (the road was formerly named as Birch Road).

Further down this road was the famous Chinatown, a must go shopping district for tourists both local and foreign alike. Come and feel the splendour of the past in one of the most historical area of Kuala Lumpur.